How close are we to wireless DJing?

Where there are DJs, there are wires. Sometimes too many. Wires there so many? But seriously, there are a few companies trying to make DJing more painless and less wired by providing cable-free connections between decks, mixers, headphones and monitors. Let’s check ‘em out and expand our professional DJ gear knowhow.

What DJ gear most needs wires? 

The main audio connection between the mixer and the front of house speakers. Don’t mess too much with that. Audio wireless connections are pretty stable these days, but if there’s one thing you don’t want to fail, it’s the sound hitting the floor. A finicky wireless connection between, say, MIDI controller and mixer causing playback issues might delay a cue trigger, but you can usually find a workaround before the track playback ends. So if you’re aiming for wires anywhere, make them on the master output. 

Wireless DJ Headphones 

Wireless headphones are pretty common, and thankfully so. When DJing, the most annoying wire is the one connecting you to your decks. It snags on your elbow or loops over items on your surface. If you’re not careful, it can even sometimes pull your master fader up or down! A solution like the Aiaiai TMA-2 Studio Wireless headphones is one option. It sends high-quality audio over a local bluetooth connection enabled by a little transmitter you plug into your mixer. 

Latency issues when DJing

One general rule about wireless DJing: make sure your wireless connection is able to handle the volume of data you’re trying to send. So if you’re on a wifi connection (preferably a local hotspot and not the venue’s wifi), don’t try to send high-quality audio over a Bluetooth connection unless it’s designed to do so. Likewise, Bluetooth will work fine for the lower data rates required by MIDI controllers, which transmit a lot less information. 

Wireless DJing can be a thing, but we’re not quite there yet. Cables are still just too reliable, albeit inconvenient, and we’re still miles away from wireless power transmission. Either way, it looks like cables are here to stay for a while. Here’s to dreaming of a day when DJs can easily perform wirelessly outdoors! Until that day, stay on top of your game with one of the DJ courses offered by DJ Courses Online.

Why is DJ software so expensive?

If you’re running a laptop to DJ, you need software. Unless you’re spinning vinyl or playing back files from a USB on a set of decks, you need a DJ program which allows you the basic functions of crossfading and EQing. But their limitations are what often cause DJs to feel the need to pay for the full experience. Music preparation software is one thing, but playback and learning performance DJing are another. And these tools are getting expensive. 

Price experiments

Some DJ software is free. Both Rekordbox (for standalone Pioneer DJing) and Engine DJ (for Denon and Numark) are free. But at this point in time, the idea of a product is shifting away from industrial-era physical goods to intellectual property. It’s a brave new world, and developers are experimenting with price. Nobody knows exactly what the products are actually worth, because the market for new and specific DJ software is still so new and volatile. So bear in mind that pricing products is a bit of a crapshoot, even from the point of view of those making them. 

How much does DJ software cost?

There are two ways of paying for software: outright purchase or monthly subscription. The price for the leading brands ranges from $49 a year (djay Pro AI) to $399 outright (Serato). Traktor, one of the most popular platforms, comes in at $99 outright, which could be considered a good average price. When you purchase the accompanying hardware, some features may require you to upgrade for an additional cost. For example, purchasing the Numark NS4FX controller ($499) requires a full version of Serato ($299), and can’t be used with Serato DJ Lite.

Is expensive DJ gear worth it? 

There are a ton of features available to DJs these days. Key and beat sync, cloud-based music collections, video mixing, lighting control. So yeah, it might be worth it if you’re resourced enough to use the gear to put on a show that earns a lot. But to justify the costs of these top-tier solutions, you really need to be thick in the game of DJing ‘and fairly connected to the key promoters in your regional scene. 

At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a flex and you can afford to drop $1000 on gear, it’s a fantastic feeling. Being able to control the energy in a room from a single console is a reason to get up in the morning. But the gear isn’t what you need to achieve that feeling. Magic is made when you’re passionate about the tunes you’re playing. People sense it. Wanna get there quicker? Master Serato DJ performance with our Serato DJ Course.

Crafting your DJ personality

Whether you like it or not, being a DJ turns you into a type of low-level public person. People feel entitled to start conversations with you (also whether you feel like it or not!). You’re more attractive to the opposite sex. You get free drinks and requests. To make this persona last, you need to think about where it’s taking you. Here are a few tips from the pro DJs on how to survive and thrive in an often insane environment. 

Popularity isn’t coolness

Popularity is often confused with coolness. Being popular is about how others treat you, while being cool is about how you treat others. Getting noticed for your work is actually the easy part. Always treating others with respect is the tricky part, especially if they don’t deserve it. But as a DJ, you’re expected to be able to deal with difficult situations and keep your cool. So even if you have an army of people who want the incident to end so the music can continue, try to be cool. 

Have an alter ego

A lot of people will probably go against this advice, but here it is anyway: to be noticed, you have to be more than just another person who DJs a little on the weekend. You’re going to need to create some kind of superhero origin story, hide inside a DJ mask or do something creative with your ability. Because let’s face it, selecting tracks and DJing isn’t technically that challenging for anyone born after 1970. What’s your story? Why do you love music the way you do? Why do you show up to share it, even when there’s no money? And most importantly, who’s it all for?

Be a good person

Even old people get starstruck when they meet their heroes. And the story they want to tell everyone after meeting them? “She was so cool. Even though she’s popular, she seemed so normal and humble.” That’s the type of story you have to give people when they come up to you. Don’t get caught up by the dark side (because there is one, and it can be dangerous). Make it your aim to give people a good time. Say please and thank you. Make your connections with people real ones. Don’t be a snob.

More than one DJ has been seduced by the near-instant gratification that you can get from acquiring a set of decks and playing some tunes at a drinking spot. After all, it’s, like, the most fun you can have wherever you are in the world. But keep it real. Give the people a chance to forget about pandemics and problems, and just take them for a ride. And while you’re at it, take yourself for one, too. Get into the spirit of it with one of these online DJ courses today.

How important is having the right DJ gear?

Having the right gear can make things fun. And yeah, you do need equipment if your aim is to be a professional DJ. It’s a question every DJ has asked themselves:do you need all the swish gear to make a splash? Read on.

Playback is playback

Legendary DJ Fatboy Slim once said of his career as a performer and DJ, “at its heart, it’s about playing records.” It’s easy to forget that playback is playback. Technically, you can DJ with a pair of cassette players and a 2-track mixer. People aren’t as concerned with the specs on your gear as commercial messaging would have us believe. If you’re able to keep the groove going and select the right tunes, every piece of gear beyond that is a bonus.

Each DJ’s needs are different

Some DJ sets only require a laptop, a wifi connection and a Spotify account. Others require a pair of decks with dedicated gain, EQ and crossfader functions. You can’t really mix a house set, for example, without having a cue mix because you need to beatmatch the incoming tune. But beyond the basics, functionality rapidly starts to appear unnecessary. Whatever you’re working with, push your gear’s limits. No knob left unturned! 

All the gear and no idea

Oft-quoted saying in DJing: “you can have all the gear and no idea.” After all, having a good selection and knowing how to mix your tracks is way more valuable than botching a mix even on a Pioneer DJM Tour1 system. Ideas, not gear, are what makes the crowds take notice. Another good reason to invest in your own abilities with an online DJ course (check out our selection).

Magnetic faders, 64-bit floating point mixing processing, dual VCF filters with analogue harmonic distortion; these headline-grabbing features are gonna take your mix and sound up a few notches, but they’re not going to teach you anything you don’t learn and practice yourself. Best play? Get good on whatever you’ve got right here, right now.

3 ways to save your hearing as a DJ

Don’t worry. This isn’t one of those ‘turn it down, sonny!’ posts. It’s just a bit of common sense for aspiring DJs. Music is sometimes (not always) too loud. Repeat exposure to loud music causes hearing loss at a surprisingly early age (think mid-30s). As someone who frequents loud music environments, you gotta protect your hearing. Right?

Turn down the club monitors

If you’ve got a club gig, the management usually wants the sound at a certain level. That’s out of your control. But you do have control over the monitor speakers. Think of the monitors as the ‘dry’ mix. All the boomy reverby stuff coming from the front-of-house speakers and bouncing off the walls before it reaches you is your ‘wet’ mix. The reason we have in-booth monitors isn’t for volume, it’s for ‘dryness’. We need a clear, un-reverby signal, not a loud one. So the trick is to make the club monitors just loud enough to sound dry, but no louder. 

Play quality audio files

In comparison to playing in a band, traveling as a DJing is super agile. A pen drive and a pair of headphones might be all you need. But the drawback is that space-saving MP3 rips can be horrible to listen to and also cause hearing damage. That high-frequency aliasing effect you hear? Terrible for your ears. Wherever possible, make sure your DJ techniques include playing a set in WAV format and that the music is well produced! You can get away with MP3s, but if the tune sounds grainy and brittle at the top end, find a better copy. 

Try ‘close-and-soft’ chatting

There’s a trick to communicating clearly at a loud party without raising your voice, but it takes trust. Instead of facing the person and shouting, get your mouth right next to their ear, cup your hand to it and speak at a normal level. You can even whisper. It works. The reason we don’t do this all the time is because of a lack of trust. People come too close and then shout into your ear! Train your friends. It takes a huge amount of trust letting someone do it, but it’s the best way to talk when the music is blaring. Try it. Close-and-soft speaking is also a good way to gain the trust of someone you’re vibing with. 

You’re actually more than one person. You’re now-you, and you’re later-you. Later-you wants to say thanks to now-you for being a little kinder and helping protect their hearing. Friends might say you’re being lame. But, like, honestly, not going deaf is basic common sense. And if you’re not convinced, check out what the professional DJs at DJ Courses Online have to say about it.

Stuff about DJing they don’t tell you

So we’ve established that the world of DJing is a combination of real love and real hype. It’s church. It’s a fix. It’s a way of being. But it takes a professional DJ to strip away the misconceptions and straighten out some stuff about the artform. Check out a few general axioms which they don’t tell you about DJing.

The smaller the venue, the more the DJ is doing

That old stereotype of festival DJs just pushing play and then fist-pumping the crowd for an hour? True. But really only at the massive events which need to mitigate risk. Even a small DJ fail can cost a lot of money. At an outdoor market or house concert, however, people are literally putting their drinks on your table. You’re so exposed that you can’t hide what you’re doing, and the crowd wants more than an auto-playlist. They want to be read. 

Not everyone can DJ

It takes rhythm and a love for music, people and parties. Not everyone has these skills. Not everyone has put in the hours learning advanced DJ techniques. DJing has always been more than simply playing records. Radio DJs needed to speak on air, and even use props to make sound effects. There’s a certain expectation that comes with the role. People skills are definitely required. 

DJs usually can play an instrument

They say that most DJs are frustrated musicians. It’s kinda true, too. It’s certainly the case for producers, who found a way to short-circuit the decade-long period of playing an instrument by going straight to making the sounds. DJing feels like being a conductor of an orchestra. So don’t be surprised to learn that many DJs are actually talented instrumentalists, but see the value in keeping up appearances. And then, of course, there’s the occasional globetrotting DJ duo who’s also so musically trained that they release sheet music on their website alongside tour dates.

When you have control over all aspects of the music, DJing becomes what you make of it. You can be a turntablist, a hype person, a jukebox. You can choose to make a name for yourself as a smartphone DJ, a livestream-only DJ, a DJ who plays most gigs in a forest. You have such freedom to express yourself. And we’re just here to remind you of that.

How DJs can protect their hearing

“If it’s too loud, you’re too old?” True. Until you turn 40 and realize that you really don’t score any points for having to lean forward and say “huh?” every time your little nephew speaks. Seriously, it’s pretty dumb advice, usually offered in poor judgment by the non-sober. Here’s some better advice on how to keep your DJing passion alive, well past your formative years. 

Use better headphones

When headphones block out the room sound, you don’t have to turn them up so loud. You’re effectively turning down the room volume. A good pair of over-ear headphones is the best way to make sure you don’t have to blast your cue mix in order to hear what’s coming up next. For DJ Courses Online students, here’s a little bit more on playing longer DJ sets. 

Carry earplugs

A pair of soft foam earplugs will do amazing things for your life as a DJ, but also as a citizen of a developed city. Traffic, construction, suburban gardening tools - these all contribute to the angsty background hum of modern life. Loud music is awesome, but as a DJ, you gotta attend a lot of parties. Hundreds of hours of being in a loud environment. Make a habit of carrying earplugs and save yourself a few hours of hearing each time. You’ll still hear the music and be in the vibe. 

Rest your ears

Maybe you already have a quiet place to go when you’re off duty. The gentle sounds of nature are a panacea to a loud lifestyle. Even just an hour of being alone in a forest or natural area has an amazing effect in balancing you out and refreshing you for the next party! If your only idea of downtime is gaming, you’re adding pressure to an already amped up lifestyle. Don’t quit your gaming (as if that’s an option!). Just balance it out a bit with some quiet time. Makes sense, right?

Don’t get the wrong idea. There are a bunch of good reasons to listen to music at a high level. But if it’s too loud, maybe it’s just too loud. Even really cool, awesome party people have had the experience of knowing without a doubt that the levels are too high, and that the DJ probably isn’t aware. Are your ears still ringing the next day? That’s tiny hearing cells singing their final goodbye. Take this stuff seriously, guys.

Misconceptions about DJing

The fight against misconceptions in DJing is real. Ask any professional DJ who’s ever had someone ask them why they charge so much, or demand that they play only vinyl because of the sound quality. As a DJ, you’ll wanna be prepared for this type of attitude. We got your back. Here are a couple of the main misconceptions held by both DJs themselves and their audiences. 

MP3s are inferior

In terms of sound quality, MP3s are slightly inferior to lossless files like WAV and FLAC. That much is true. But the idea that you need to play lossless files in order to be considered a good DJ is rubbish. The quality of the sound rig you’re playing on might give away the fact that a file is an MP3, but most rigs won’t. Many MP3 rips are terrible and have that squeaky aliasing sound in the treble, but in all other respects, a 320kbps export of a file is practically identical to a WAV. If anyone ever calls you out on playing MP3s, enjoy watching them fail a blind comparison challenge. Humans just aren’t that good at telling the difference, and that’s why MP3s are as popular as they are. 

Your musical taste is superior

Your taste isn’t superior to anyone’s in any way. It’s simply what you enjoy. So saying that your choice in music is better than anyone else’s is like saying that they shouldn’t enjoy green beans because brown beans are better. There has never been a DJ who managed to capture 100% of the crowd. Like you, people have their own tastes. The more professional you aim to be as a DJ, the less you’ll play the music you love and the more you’ll cater to the tastes of the crowd. Being a good DJ means being willing to learn and develop your taste to suit the crowds you aim to please. Aim to find that sweet spot, where both you and the audience can enjoy the music fully. Your taste isn’t superior to anyone’s in any way. It’s simply what you enjoy.

DJing is easy and automated

Uh…no. Admittedly, many big events do require very little of the DJ. But for the most part, DJing requires a lot more than technical knowledge and a musical collection. DJing is about people. It’s about dealing kindly with drunk people, negotiating song requests, carrying expensive gear through dodgy streets. It’s about being diligent enough to prepare, to think out possible eventualities. It’s about remembering to pack an extra RCA cable, because the birthday girl’s sister is going to ask you if she can play something off her phone. So if you’re looking for a bit of music, pick a Spotify playlist. Booking a DJ, on the other hand, gets you experienced judgment calls, crowd control and a hype monster who’ll give you a great night out.

Misconceptions are everywhere. As a DJ, you’ll want to make sure your clients know the difference between a Spotify playlist and a human being with years of experience. They’re not paying for music, they’re paying for good judgment. They’re paying for someone who knows that unless you duct tape a cable to the floor, someone will trip over it and bring the PA tops crashing to the floor. That’s why you gotta learn the industry standard DJing practices. Take your journey to the next level.

How do DJs pick songs for their sets?

In case it’s not entirely clear, DJs are selectors of music. But the bulk of this selection doesn’t actually happen on the fly, but rather at home during set preparation. A common mistake many new DJs make is to assume they’ll find the right track in the moment. But unless you have an encyclopedic knowledge of all music, it actually takes a little forethought to curate a DJ set. Here’s how. 

Find the right ratio

Having a set that’s just one banger after another is gonna get the crowd going very quickly, but pretty soon they’ll want a chance to take a breather or some kind of palette cleanser. On the other hand, leave your hit tracks until too late in the night and you run the risk of the floor staying empty. The trick is balance and ratio. For every 5 hot tracks, you should play about 2 that are relatively unknown to the masses. In other words, find that sweet spot that satisfies them but also leaves them wanting more. 

Get them drinking

Yep. Especially in bar gigs, where you’re getting paid a split of the sales. There are tracks that call for tequila shooters, tracks for the beer crowd, tracks that get the old folks to get another bottle of wine. If you want to instigate a bar rush, timing is key. The right time is usually about 15 minutes after the first wave. More people are sitting down, checking phones. This is where you drop a few primers and then a banger to let them know it’s not time to go home yet. 

Know the audience, of course

People everywhere love to get dressed up and head out. The more exotic the party or venue’s theme, the more risky your set can be. For example, doing the music for a toga party means looking for tracks that are fun, funny and lighthearted, while a pool bar probably wants very little more than Lynard Skynard and top 40 classic rock remixes later in the night. Knowing these types of cultural norms takes time and experience, but pretty soon you’ll realize how much power you have as a party starter! 

DJs all have one thing in common: we know how to curate a vibe. Sound matters, image matters. But nothing matters more than knowledge of music. The ability to talk music with other people and to sell your ability to select music are at the heart of the game. DJ Courses Online helps with the technical aspects of learning to DJ. The rest will depend on your love of the game!

Three questions every DJ has been asked

Most often, DJing just means showing up for the gig with the gear on time. But when you’re getting creative by throwing your own parties or selecting new music, you often need to figure stuff out for yourself. Everyone’s had questions about what works and what doesn’t, what people want, how to get noticed. Stuff like that. Get a sense of the questions that career DJs get asked.

What makes a tune work?

At the heart, good musical composition and powerful lyrics. That’s the cake. Then, the right balance of frequencies. That’s the icing. A tune needs to connect people emotionally, to bring them together regardless of any differences between them. Nostalgia is a key part of this. People love what they know, and new material can’t always compete with songs that are nested deep in their psyche through the years of repetition. 

What’s the goal of DJing?

To enhance the acoustic atmosphere of a space so that the people in that space can experience a heightened emotional state. This means knowing the equipment well enough to be able to shape that experience. For example, knowing that a house system is a little dull in the high frequencies means that you need to respond by pushing the highs a little. 

How do you start a scene? 

The idea of starting a scene is a little flawed. Music scenes that propagate and grow are the result of breaking into and then building community. Individuals don’t have all the power to themselves. They merely direct the desires of the scene by taking action and showing up with solutions to the crowd’s problems (weekend boredom, lack of transport, cultural underrepresentation, etc). This takes a certain amount of empathy. Being able to see into the desires of groups of people is a good start. Then there’s playing the music they love, every weekend!

Made up your mind that you’re a DJ, like it or not? That’s the spirit! So you have the passion, you might even have the gear. Now you need the knowledge to level up your abilities. YouTube is a good place to learn, but focused DJ video coursework is what DJ Courses Online does best. Check out the courses on offer today.

Audio treatment tips for your room

Most people who are learning to DJ also create electronic music. If you’re one of them, you’ll want to produce tracks and mixes that sound good on big systems. It’s not enough to only use algorithmic mastering services to improve the quality of your mix. That’s where acoustic treatment comes in. Follow these tried-and-true steps to make your room - and your mixes - sound better.

Get good speakers at head height

You’re familiar with the music producer’s curse: you make a dope sounding track, but when you play it on your friend’s system, it sounds weird. There’s no bass, or too much. The mids are screaming, or the whole thing sounds too quiet. Good speakers at the solution to half of this problem. With a pair of studio monitors (not desktop PC speakers or hifi speakers), you’ll have a clearer, flatter EQ response from your signal. It’s an absolute must for anyone serious about producing music and DJing professionally.

Get some room insulation

Just as important as good speakers is a dead room. So many factors ‘color’ the sound in the room, but having acoustic foam insulation will reduce the low end dramatically and rid you of some of the dreaded reverb. Unwelcome audio is the enemy of a clear mix, and must be destroyed. Use corrugated foam on as many flat surfaces as you can to absorb the sound bouncing around your room.

Learn a bit about sound

You want to level up as a DJ? Study a little bit about how sound works. If you only spend your precious DJ practice and fun time doing the same stuff, you’ll stagnate. So make friends with the learning process. Look up stuff like ‘how sound behaves’ (here’s a great video channel with visualizations). The science of DJing is far more predictable and reliable than some of the crowds at your gigs!

Even though most DJs are known for their hype value and bangers, being a DJ is so much more. Your expertise as a sound engineer will stand you in good stead. Learning a bit about DJing and sound will enable you to make good judgment calls on a variety of rooms and spaces. And besides that, you get to sound like someone who knows what they’re talking about, which is pretty hot! 

3 types of sampler for your next DJ set

Samplers? Aren’t they for battle DJs from the 90s? Sure, everything is possible with software now, but having an additional device besides your DJ decks is a good idea. Using multiple sound sources is the key to making music that sounds vivid and fresh. Here are three ways to use a sampler in your next set. 

Dedicated hardware samplers

The Roland404 series is still very much the OG of commercially available hardware samplers, but really any device that allows for playback and manipulation of samples will do the trick. From single one-shot triggers to loops and even full tracks, samplers are limited only by onboard memory and your imagination. 

Modulation devices that can act as samplers

While devices like the Kaoss pad are devoted more to the realtime modulation of an audio signal than the playback, they can in fact be samplers, too. There’s a small amount of onboard memory that allows for the device to store pre-loaded samples or even those created on the fly. Syncing loops to your main beats gets a bit tricky (you’ll need to connect the device to your computer or decks), so consider using it as a fun gimmick rather than a cornerstone of your set. 

Looper devices and guitar pedals

Guitarists all know the Boss range of instrument pedals, which all allow for signal modulation of some kind. They have a range of loopers with varying amounts of functionality, all of which can be used to trigger samplers in interesting ways. Their delay pedal range includes ‘hold’ functionality, which can also be hacked to be used as a real-time sampler! 

Samplers are a superb way to bring a fresh vibe to your set. Let’s be honest - DJ sets downloaded entirely from Beatport by algorithmic suggestion only do sometimes sound a little flat and homogenous. Bringing additional devices into your set is one way to give the floor some life! So little time, so much DJ course material learning to do!

The 4 pillars of hardware DJing

Look ma, no computer! Hardware DJing has grown in popularity over the last 20 years as more people seek their escape from the screen. After all, screens are mostly for work, and unless you aspire to be a professional DJ, DJing is mostly for fun, right? So let’s check out the 4 devices you’ll need to be a hardware DJ. 

Drum machine / sequencer

The step sequencer is most often a drum machine of some kind. It’s responsible for keeping the groove going so that you can do live stuff over the top. Sequencers can also be units or modules within other devices which allow you to trigger those onboard sounds. Basically, the sequencer/drum machine is the heartbeat of the setup.

Synthesizer

If the sequencer is the heart, the synthesizer is the mouth of the setup. It’s where the most colorful sounds originate. You can use synths like the Arturia PolyBrute to play live keys, for example, or in combination with the sequencer to trigger back sounds. Arps are particularly powerful ways of creating dance music, which generally requires more precise timing than other forms of music. Envelopes and effects are where you can do the characteristic builds and drops. 

Sampler

Samplers can play back full tracks, loops or even just oneshots such as drum sounds and fills. Samplers bring the magic of pre-recorded audio to the mix. Dance music comes alive when it contains Bollywood vocal, a great line from a mafia film or a live darbuka loop. There’s something about combining multiple sound sources that gets us all going. To continue the body parts analogy, samplers are the face of the music. They give us the hooks we can relate to. 

Mixer

And finally, the brain of the setup. While the mixer can be used creatively by fading parts in and out and overlaying reverb and delay effects, it’s primary function is to input multiple tracks and output a stereo feed for the house system. Mixers can also be DJ-specific (battle mixers or 4-channel mixers) or studio builds. 

The magic of hardware DJing is the absence of a computer. It’s something to experience, both as a crowd member or as the DJ yourself. The idea that DJing music can totally transcend modern computing is awesome, and the hardware DJing approach always results in a fresher, cleaner and often more powerful sound. Or, if you prefer, you can stick with the Ableton Live DJing course by DJ Courses Online.

Pros and cons of streaming your DJ set

One of the upsides to the pandemic has been how we’ve all needed to learn to stream our sets. Video camera sales skyrocketed. Web traffic to live stream tutorials has increased. And pretty much everyone knows what OBS is now. But should you be live streaming your IRL gigs? Here are a few reasons to consider. 

Pro: people listen with their eyes

It’s no longer enough to send a link to mixcloud. To gain new fans, you really have to lean into video. Live streaming your set shows people that you’re a busy DJ, and also gives them the chance to interact with you on the fly. Video beats audio hands-down. Video is where we meet. Embrace it. People are desperate for something cool, fresh and new. Act like the pro DJ you know you are and show them your taste in music!

Pro: interaction on their terms

People get excited when they get to earn social points with very little effort. By live streaming your set, you put your best work in front of people who aspire to do what you’re doing. It’s a flex, and the audience will love it. When you show up continually and consistently, they’ll tune in, comment and share your video. If your plan is to build a career as a DJ, you’re in the business of reaching out to people on their terms - wherever they are.

Con: extra work

Yep. Sorry, but a live streaming setup is already at least an extra bag of gear to set up, monitor and protect during your set. Stuff like tripods and flight cases are the heaviest, so rather use gorilla tripods and laptop bags. It’s an extra chore monitoring the live feed, commenting and triggering gifs during your set. Cameras, extra gear and audio feeds certainly add complexity. 

The upside? You’re now a streaming DJ. You’re more in people’s faces. When they see you IRL, they’ll mention your latest video. And ultimately, you’ll make more money in ticket sales when the time comes to throw a party. Video and live streaming is arguably the best marketing tactic around today. Use it. Find out more about marketing your music from the pros in the DJ Career Tips course by DJ Courses Online.

DJ sampler apps for smartphones

DJing is more than just playing music. It’s about creating a vibe in the room that makes people want to stick around and move. In a previous piece, we looked at how having a sampler app on your phone gives you that edge. Check out these 3 sampler apps which let you play back DJ idents and custom samples by triggering them on your phone. Little tricks like these are how we move from hobby DJ to professional DJ, so get on it!

G-Stomper

If you haven’t tried out G-Stomper, get on it. It’s a beast, and deserving of the universal love it gets. The sampler sectdion is just one of its features, but it delivers as expected. Sequence drum machine-styled patterns with up to 8 samples at a time. Click and hold a sample to load one from your phone. Loads more. Pros: sophisticated and beautiful. Cons: Only 12 sounds before you have to upgrade.

Samply

Samply is one of the leading apps for iOS and Android, probably because the app doesn’t try to bake too much functionality into its interface. On an ordinary-size phone, you’ll get 12 sample pads, each with their own volume control and trigger. Pros: simple, free (with some banner ads) and intuitive built-in playback features. Cons: costs a couple bucks to load more than 3 sample packs at a time. 

DJ Sound FX

Another simple app with a bunch of built-in sounds which doesn’t promise more than it delivers is DJ Sound FX. Onboard sounds include typical hype DJ stuff like an airhorn, explosion and MC catchphrases (“Here we go now!”). Pros: loads of sounds to choose from (bat sounds?!). Cons: unattractive interface and sneaky ads disguised as the actual transport panel for the app!

To play back samples from your phone while DJing, you’ll need to plug it into a spare input on the mixing desk. Most phones still have 3.5mm headphone outputs, but if your phone is a more recent iPhone or Samsung, you’ll need a USB-C to RCA cable. Make sure your volume levels match the track you’re playing, and get triggering and consider checking out the Advanced DJ Techniques III course by DJ Courses Online today.

Three ways to use your phone to DJ

It’s a carrier pigeon! It’s a computer! It’s a game console! Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the amazing smartphone! And it puts the power of a thousand suns in the pocket of every DJ, large or small. So here’s how you could stand out of the crowd and use your phone to boost your presence as an upcoming hotshot DJ. Take it beyond a hobby and sign up for a DJ course online.

Extra source of music

It’s a good idea to have a backup when DJing. You only need to crash and burn once to realize it. So keep that emergency 60-minute mix on your phone. Plug the phone into any spare mixer channel before you start. Most mixers have an aux input. That way, if your laptop crashes (or worse, decides to update) as you take the stage, you can keep the music going. 

Standalone DJ app

DJ apps are cute little alternatives to a pair of decks. They’re good for house parties or music takeovers when the party is feeling a little dull. And the best part? You’ve always got the chance to show off your collection. Just one thing before using your phone to DJ: make sure you’ve completely disabled notification sounds and incoming calls. Preferably switch to flight mode. Having WhatsApp interrupt your set is pretty cringe. 

Ident sampler 

You can use your phone as a little sampler to play back DJ idents, one-shots or even run loops synced up to your set. Idents are short branded shoutouts of your DJ name. They work. If you have any doubt, just ask anyone if they’ve ever heard of DJ Khaled. Because there’s no mixing involved (just instant triggering), make sure the phone’s volume level is matched to the beats otherwise you might blow the heads off the crowd!

Phones rule, and it’s likely only a matter of time before there’s more class-compliance in how they interact with decks and mixers (right now, they’re treated by DJ setups as nothing more than storage devices, which doesn’t really harness their power). But until we have Android or iOS software running on Pioneer mixers, keep going strong on your journey by learning to DJ from the pros.

Understanding DJ subculture

It feels a bit weird reading about dance music and DJ subculture. After all, the point of the whole scene is to get away from stuff that sounds academic, right? The reason we DJ is to get away from school and hilariously theoretical articles like this. But every so often, you gotta admit it’s useful having a broad reminder of how the DJ and dance music culture all works. Here’s an overview of what defines an arts scene.

The music scene

A scene is defined by the music it listens to. Fashion, too. In a music scene, people feel free to express the side of them that they aren’t able to during the normal business of life obligations. A scene is an outlet, an escape. It’s where we choose to meet and represent ourselves as we want to, and not as we have to. Being part of a scene is an act of contribution. By choosing to dress a certain way, you’re not just flexing, you’re actually contributing something! By learning to DJ and showing your music taste to the others, you’re serving a community.

Action and reaction 

Art is always a reaction to something. In the case of dance music, it’s a reaction to society’s demand for us to sit down and concentrate like factory workers. When dancing, the physically passive state is replaced by body movement, and the cognitive focus is replaced by the freedom to be fun and impulsive. Not everything about the party scene is healthy, but dancing is. It activates all sorts of chemicals that are good for you, which is why the link between dancing and health is being studied.

Earning through community

At some point, most non-professional hobby DJs pause to consider the possibility of making money by throwing parties. This is not as easy as some would make it sound. It’s not a direction for the faint of heart. Like most careers in the arts, it relies entirely on your participation in the scene. In order to get bookings, you need to be someone who gets on well with others and acts like a professional, not an out-of-control party hog or a hopeful newcomer. 

That means doing the uphill work of learning to DJ. Seriously? Professional DJs practice. They practice their mixes at home. They take time out to experiment with different styles. By the time they start earning, they’ve paid their dues. You can shortcut that process by learning directly from the pros. Check out the full selection of DJ courses on offer today and take your passion for the scene to the next level.

DJ-friendly jobs that don’t require a following

It’s sometimes pretty painful trying to get booked. It seems as though the only thing the promoters care about is one number: your Insta following. Not even your Soundcloud numbers matter so much, and it’s a music streaming platform! But not every DJ-related job in the industry requires you to be the one on stage. Check out these jobs where you get mad props just for knowing how to DJ. 

Events booker

Many DJs (if not all of them) are also events bookers. That means they’re either creating a catalog of entertainment acts for local events or they’re earning an affiliate commission for being involved in a successful booking. If you’re a DJ, you can often insert yourself into the bill at a wedding or party where you’ve been hired to book a band. It starts with you being helpful and connected to the scene. The opportunities to build a name for yourself as a standalone act will flow from there. 

Press officer

Maybe you’re good with words and video editing. You might be well suited for a position as a press or public relations officer. As a DJ, you’re able to empathize with other DJs and musicians. This just means you’re the official communicator on behalf of the DJ you represent. You craft their image through social media and branding. You (often) make them appear more important than the public would otherwise think they are. It involves a lot of outreach, but as a DJ you’re not afraid of getting your hands a little dirty! And you get to attend all the parties while you build your own name as a DJ. 

Content creator

You’d be surprised how many DJ-related jobs there are out there. Not all of them require the swagger of a well-paid superstar (you don’t really want that, anyway). Some of them call for expertise in music production, while others are pushing the boundaries and require knowledge of video editing, writing and coursework creation. It's a less stable income, but you’re a DJ. You’re used to it. And besides, everyone’s a freelancer now. 

Keep your mind open to the possibilities. There is always going to be an onslaught of media showing people who are apparently more successful than you are. It’s not about making a dent in history. It’s about pursuing your own passion, and weaving it into your everyday life. Make that start with one of the excellent courses by DJ Courses Online today.

The career DJ playbook

Let’s say you’ve never touched DJ equipment in your life. Now you’re ready to start your journey towards cultivating a crowd of fans that shows up whenever you play. What’s the quickest and most painless way to get there? Follow these three steps to make your way forward as a career DJ.

Year 1: know your aims

Start honest. If you’re aiming to make cash, you’ll need to play the hits. So acquire the 1000 greatest wedding songs. Organize them into a dance set ranging from 110BPM - 150BPM. Practice mixing every day. Know the titles and tracks of the biggest hits. Acquire everything you need, down to the RCA adapters for your spare cables. Definitely sign up for an affordable DJ training course and watch tons of YouTube tutorials. 

Year 2: know your audience

Move to the biggest nearby city. Listen to what’s playing on the radio. Yep, radio is still king, especially in developing countries. Know what people are demanding. Keep practicing. Make friends in the scene and play lots of house parties through hi-fi speakers. Make sure people don’t put their drinks on the DJ table. Don’t ask to get paid yet. Take loads of photos and videos showing people having a good time while you’re DJing.

Year 3: know your worth

Finally, time to start professional DJing! Approach clubs in town that host DJ nights. Show them all the fun you’ve been curating. Get a gig. Play the newest hits. You’ll be invited back. Get a residency. Get all your agreements in writing. Play the occasional gig for free, but never play for nothing. Know your worth by demanding something in return, even if it’s only something like free drinks for 4 friends.

The career DJ knows something that most amateurs don’t: that it’s not about them. Competition is fierce, and anyone who is able to pay will demand that you have professional standards, good taste and are a pleasure to work with. Don’t believe the hype. DJing is mostly about plugging in cables and pretending to have a good time so that strangers can meet each other. So get cracking and whether or not you make it, you’ll have a good time!

DJing older music

Maybe you’re in DJing for the extra money. Maybe for the street cred and the fans. So if you’re aiming to make a name as someone who has taste, you’ll need to find the gems - or even better, produce them yourself. And what’s the one place that upcoming DJs always forget to look for the bangers? The past! Let’s check out a few tips for DJing older music. 

Why look back in time?

It’s 2022. The 1970s were 50 years ago. There was way less recorded music back then, but most of it did have to pass through some kind of tastemaker to ever see the light of day. The result? A higher quality-to-rubbish ratio. In other words, it’s easier to find good undiscovered music by going through the Motown back catalog than by searching online for ‘stuff that sounds like Motown’. The goal is to find those gems.

Retro is cool

The past is always in fashion, if you know when to look. Usually it takes a generation for culture to start recycling. In the 2010s, synthwave and synth-pop were in fashion. And true enough, a lot of 90s stuff is trending now. Go with it. Find those 90s hits and remixes that you think are dope and play them at your next party. DJing isn’t always just about playing the hits. Sometimes you have to show people your own taste and style. Start with a list of 90s dance music artists.

Old people party too

Of course, avoid playing ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ at a beach bar just because you spot someone in a leather jacket. But do acknowledge that not everyone who parties is under 30, even if you are. It’s definitely worth having some of yesterday’s hits in your crate, or at least some uplifting remixes of them. DJing is about showing people a good time. The older you get, the less you care about new stuff. Where appropriate, show the oldies a good time too! (Oh yeah, and they generally have more money, too.)

There’s still a ton of good undiscovered music from the pre-Internet days. And you’ll be surprised at the recording and production quality too. The way music is mixed has changed, and the party crowd always wants something new. Especially when it’s old. Get on track with the Advanced DJ Techniques and Tips III course